Meet nine entrepreneurs who will inspire you to start a business in 2025

One in five UK adults say they want to start a business. That figure rises to over one in three in the age group, 18 to 34-year-olds.

If you fit the description of someone who feels they have more potential with their career and dreams of becoming their own boss, there's no time like the present to get started!

There is an abundance of support for individuals with entrepreneurial ambitions and if you’re getting tired of staring at a screen, we’ve got a high-energy in-person event for you!

Join us at St. Paul’s, London for StartUp Show 2025 on Saturday, 25 January and enjoy access to over 100 inspirational entrepreneurs and small business experts across six business-related zones and stages.

Here is a flavour of some of the inspiring speakers who will be sharing their expertise on the day:

1. Daisy Kelly

Daisy is the founder of Glow For It, a vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand created during the 2020 lockdown. Passionate about sustainability and empowerment, Daisy developed award-winning products like the Lash Growth Serum, inspiring confidence in thousands.

Her innovative vision drives the brand's growth and community-focused ethos​.

2. Ryan Panchoo

Ryan is the CEO and founder of Borough 22 Doughnuts, set up in 2014, winning a number of accolades, such as finalist for Black British Business Awards 2024 Senior Leader Luxury Goods, Pasty Chef of the Year 2023, Free From Food Awards 2023, Great Taste Award 2023 and Great British Food Award winners. 

3. Vicky Critoph

Vicky is the founder of Happy Freelancers Co, a health and happiness community dedicated to helping freelancers and founders thrive on their entrepreneurial journeys. Happy Freelancers holds nationwide coworking events, socials and international work and pay vacays. 

4. Mike Williams

Mike is the co-founder of Flake Bake, a family-run bakery in Peckham, London that produces over 20,000 handmade Jamaican patties every week.

Inspired by his late uncle's bakery legacy, Mike launched Flake Bake in 2013 with his father Paul, focusing on authentic Caribbean flavours. The business gained fame after winning Channel 4's Aldi's Next Big Thing, securing a major contract with Aldi and selling 100,000 patties in 10 days. Mike's leadership has positioned Flake Bake as a key player in London's Caribbean food market.

5. Josh Kleiner

Josh joined the family business in 2016, bringing fresh ideas and elevating the brand through social media and creative marketing. His innovative approach played a key role in shaping the identity and reach of Sandwich Sandwich.

In 2023, under Josh’s leadership, the brand won the prestigious Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year award, paving the way for the opening of its first London store in St Paul’s. Thanks to his clever marketing and forward-thinking strategies, Sandwich Sandwich has become a reputable and memorable brand that continues to grow and thrive.

6. Asti Wagner

Asti is the founder of Invyted, an influencer marketing tech platform that connects brands with influencers. Asti has now been listed in RMI's 30 Under 30 list and her vision has attracted investment from notable figures, such as Justin King, former CEO of Sainsbury’s, John Vincent, founder of Leon restaurants and Julian Ross, founder of Wireless Social.

7. Jade Buffong-Phillips

Jade is the founder and CMO of Mane Hook-Up, a beauty booking platform that helps women find and book appointments with afro hair stylists they can trust in their local area. Its ambition is to diversify the afro and curly hair industry by making afro and curly hair stylists more visible.

With a decade of experience as a purpose-driven marketing specialist, Jade focuses on building products and businesses from the ground up and creating solutions for underserved communities. Having served start-ups, scale-ups and Fortune 500 giants like Nike, she's driven projects from concept to completion, leading multi-functional teams to produce record-breaking results.

With features in the likes of British Vogue, Pop Sugar, Sheen, Schick, She Speaks, Founders, Black Beauty Magazine, UK Tech News and more Jade is digitising a $275-billion-dollar industry from the ground up.

8. Zoe Chapman

Zoe is the inventor of the Whizzer, the world’s tiniest toilet. The bootstrapped solo founder has been an active member of the Enterprise Nation community since the start of her entrepreneurial journey.

Shortly after pitching to Emma Jones for the Enterprise Nation Female Start-up Awards, she was approached to appear on BBC's Dragons Den. Her episode aired in 2023, leaving the nation tearful after sharing the challenging journey that led to the launch of her multi-award-winning product.

Soon after securing offers from both Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett, she launched the adult version due to popular demand. This enabled her to singlehandedly transform the business, breaking every sales forecast, gaining the title of Great British Entrepreneur and solving the long-standing toileting troubles of everyone from families on-the-go and outdoor enthusiasts to those in need of a more discreet medical aid. Alongside breaking the toilet talk taboo, Zoe openly discusses the challenges that come with running a business as a single mother with life-long mental health conditions that she uses as her superpower.

9. Royden Greaves

From his Caribbean roots to his engineering education and successful career in finance, Royden is driven by the belief that everyone deserves freedom – the freedom to pursue what matters most.

After 13 years in wealth management, he saw first-hand the complexities of retirement planning. That's why he founded Jarvis. It's more than a digital pension platform – it's a tool for empowerment. Jarvis brings clarity, control and the confidence to design a retirement that reflects your unique ambitions, a retirement where you're free to focus on what truly matters.

Become an Enterprise Nation adviser

Want to be part of the Enterprise Nation community? Sign up for free or upgrade to adviser membership.